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Q Ms. Reno, with the funeral this morning of the three young people who died in a plane
crash last Friday, there
doesn't seem to be much room for any other news in this town. But I would like to ask you about
the Bill Lann Lee
nomination. The president issued a statement yesterday saying that the holdup on his nomination
was actually a
disagreement with the civil rights laws rather an objection to Bill Lann Lee personally. Can you
follow-up on the
president's statement?

ATTY GEN. RENO: Bill Lee is, as Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights
Division, doing such a
wonderful job. He is a very fair, firm supporter and enforcer of the civil rights laws. He has a
wonderful way of being
able to defuse confrontation and let people get to the heart of what the issue is.

And I think almost by far the greatest majority of Americans believe in the enforcement of
our civil rights laws,
believe it's wrong to discriminate, wrong to treat people differently because of the color of their
skin or where they
came from. I think and hope that we can work with Congress to move ahead and get him
confirmed. He is a distinguished public servant, he is so dedicated, he cares so much, and he's
doing such a good job.

Q Is there some danger that Asian Americans may feel somehow slighted in this political
process because the first
Asian American -- or the highest-ranking Asian American in the Justice Department can't seem
to be confirmed for what
seems to be a natural post?

ATTY GEN. RENO: Well, I think there are concerns in a number of different positions about
the length of time it
takes to get people confirmed. But I -- he is -- he is such an excellent candidate for the job, and
when you have someone
who's willing to commit himself to public service like this, it's just wrong not to get him
confirmed.

Q On the matter of the federal tobacco lawsuit, the Congress is soon expected to take up the
question of the $20
million appropriation you've requested for the suit. If the Congress rejects that appropriation, do
you anticipate you will
still proceed with the suit?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I don't do "what ifs" and I think we can work with Congress to make
sure that we can still
proceed.

Q Let me just ask a follow-up. With respect to the suit, you had declared in April 1997 that
we need to work with the
states; the federal government does not an independent cause of action. What caused you to
change your mind about that?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I didn't change my mind, it was a different issue with respect to state
cost, and these are federal
cost for federal Medicare and other recoveries.

Q So they raise a cause of action?

ATTY GEN. RENO: Yes.

Q Ms. Reno, I guess it's a lawyer question. I guess I don't see it quite as a hypothetical. I
mean, you have attorneys in
this --

ATTY GEN. RENO: On the what?

Q Of whether you need extra money to be able to sue the industry. I mean, certainly you have
enough attorneys in the
Justice Department to file suit against the tobacco industry; is that right?

ATTY GEN. RENO: That's correct.

Q Would they come from the Civil Division?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I think in a matter like this, an investigation like this, and any cause of
action that is pursued,
will require additional resources, and I think we can work together to make sure we have those.

Q How did the Antitrust Division handle suing such a giant like Microsoft? How did they pay
for the litigation?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I'll ask Myron to give you the details so that you can have them.

Q And just one last question on that. There's a Minnesota attorney by the name of Mike Ciresi
who was hired
on contract to start a preliminary investigation on this. Has his contract been renewed?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I'll ask Myron to give you the status of it.

Q Ms. Reno, as we approach the beginning of a new century, the -- (chuckles) -- it's one of
those breaking-news type
questions! -- (laughter) -- how has the nature of one of your challenges changed? And I'm
thinking specifically about
organized crime. As you look toward the new century, has organized crime changed its
approach? Are they more high
tech now? Are they more into complex financial schemes? Is that a continuing challenge to the
department?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I think it is very much a continuing and critical challenge for the
department because we can no
longer focus just on traditional organized crime as we have known it in this country; it has now
become international in
its consequence, international in its origin, and very sophisticated in terms of the use of
technology and in understanding
-- international interests understanding our system and taking steps to manipulate our system.

So we have spent some considerable time in developing a capacity with the intelligence
community, as is appropriate
under the law, to focus on the international consequences as well, and to address the issue of
technology.

Q Thank you.

(Pause.)

ATTY GEN. RENO: Thank you. (Laughter.)

Q May I ask a quick question? There is a -- just getting back to the thing that --

ATTY GEN. RENO: These painful silences, I -- (laughter) --

Q -- Mike mentioned earlier -- (cross talk) -- or rather getting back to the reference to the
Kennedys -- there is a
picture, of course, of Robert Kennedy in your office. And you have said many times you have
admired him as one of
your predecessors in office.

What are your thoughts today, as the memorial service and the burial at sea approach? And
why do you think the
country is so grief- stricken with the death of John Kennedy Jr.?

ATTY GEN. RENO: I think all three young people represent this time so vividly, represent
the excellence of this
time and the grace of this time.

John Kennedy Jr., bracketed this half of the century for us. People felt like they knew him.
And whenever people are
as graceful, as thoughtful, as considerate of others as he was, I think people mourn him longer
and to a greater extent.